Liquid metering device



Oct. 1, 1935.; FEE, JR

' LIQUID METERING DEVICE Filed April 26, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet l A TTORNEY Law la w2o Oct. 1, 1935.- T, A. FEE, JR

LIQUID METERING DEVICE Filed April 26, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 my a INVENTOR 720/2703 17/. Wm 1A3:

A TTORNEY Oct. 1, 19 35. A, JR 2,015,997

LIQUID METERING DEVICE Filed April 26, '1953 3 Shets-Sheet 3 a? F29. /.2 /2 INVENTOR {go/was 17x11? f2: 1/7:

/5 ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 1, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE-- lumbia, Canada, assignor to Gasoline Energy Distributors Limited, Vancouver, British Columbia, a corporation of British Columbia Application April 26, 1933, Serial No. 668,024

10 Claims.

My invention relates to a liquid metering device. More particularly, my invention relates to a liquid metering device which takes into consideration the variations induced in the liquid by a change of temperature.

' the present metering devices.

For purposes or illustration and definiteness of disclosure; I will set forth my invention as applied to the metering devices for dispensing gasoline as the fuel for internal combustion engines. But it is to be understood that my invention 'is not to be restricted to any such specific use, but applies to devices where like conditions and'like problems are involved. The law defining the gallon of gasoline differs in different countries. In the United States, it is understood, it is that volume of gasoline occupying 231 cubic inches at F. and 760 m. m. pressure, and in the Dominion of Canada as that volume of gasoline at a certain temperature and at a certain barometric pressure which will balance a certain weight.

Obviously, when the temperature is higher than said certain temperature, the gasoline in the visible metering cylinders, or glass bowls, expands and flows over and back through the return pipe. This pipe, as presently commonly designed, and used, it will beunderstood, is at a fixed elevation, and the top is fixed for metering a given number of gallons, usually ten. Under such circumstances, it is obvious that the purchaser of the ten gallons expanded by the higher temperature, does not obtain the amount of fuel that the law says'shall equal ten gallons. In other words, he does not receive the full measure for which he paid. Accordingly, serious objection obtains to Again, a gauge is ordinarily provided marked from zero to teen with markers in between for each level for the gasoline to register the number of units of gasoline present for that level. The gasoline, when pumped into the glass bowl, may be immediately withdrawn, and therefore, any device which will take into consideration the variation in volume, due to change in temperature, must be of a construction which will register the change promptly. That is, by the time the glass bowl is pumped to capacity, and the gasoline has settled down to the level of the top of the withdrawal pipe, then the metering means must have readjusted itself to the temperature change to determine the proper quantity of gasoline to be dispensed as a gallon. The layer of gasoline lying between the marl; for one gallon and two gallons may be oi a dinerent height than the layer oi gasoline lying between the marker seven and the marker eight.

it is a primary purpose oi my invention to pro-- vide a liquid metering device having an automatically expansible and contractile over-flow return pipe, said pipe being thermostatically responsive to the temperature of the liquid being metered, so as to accurately take into account the variations I 5 in volume, due to the variations in temperature, and to do this so rapidly that no delay in dispensing is necessary.

Further, it is my object to provide a thermostatic means for controlling the liquid level in a 10 liquid metering reservoir, which means is characterized both by its rapidity of response to changes *in temperature ofthe liquid being metered and the force or power developed in responding. 15

Furthermore, I purpose providing a thermostatically, automatically adjustable overfiow-retum pipe provided with adjustable volume markers, which markers do not interfere with-the registering of the change of temperature of the gasoline 20- throughout all parts of the length oi the said thermostatic means.

Also, it is a primary purpose of my invention to provide aregistering means which will provide for automatically adding together the accumu- 25 lated expansion or contraction of all of the varying layersof gasoline lying between the various markers.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improvement which (a) will render present so dispensing equipment accurate, (1;) will involve little alteration of said equipment, and (0) will be capable of substitution with a minimum of expense for a precision instrument.

The above mentioned general objects of my in- 35 ventlon, together with others inherent in the same, are attained by the device illustrated in the following drawings, the same being preferred exemplary forms of embodiment of my invention, throughoutwhich drawings like reference numertil als indicate like parts:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a gasoline metering reservoir part of a gasoline pump oi the visible bowl type, the overflow-return pipe oi I which reservoir embodies my invention; 5

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in longitudinal section oi the thermostatically automatically ad jus'table overflow-return pipe;

Fig. 3 is a top View of said thermostatically m adjustable overflow-return pipe Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of a marker ele=- merit;

. Fig. 5 is an enlarged view in perspective of. a

split ring type of marker mounting member; M

' Fig. 6 is an enlarged view in perspective of a lock ring for said marker;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view in vertical section through the sylphon, split ring mounting memher, look nuts and marker element;

Fig. 8 is a view in side elevation of a gasoline metering reservoir part of a gasoline pump of the visible bowl type, the overfiow-retum pipe of which reservoir embodies a modified form of my invention, the thermostatic element being formed of a plurality of individual sylphon units;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view in longitudinal section of a sylphon individual unit;

Fig. 10 is a view in vertical section of a modified form of the top portion of an overflow-return pipe embodying my invention;

Fig. 11 is a view in vertical section of another modified form of a thermostatically, automatically adjustable overflow-return pipe;

90 Fig. 12 is a view in vertical section of another modified form of a thermostatic means controlling the liquid level in a metering device;

Fig. 13 is a plan view of one of the members of the modified form' of thermostatic means 25 shown in Fig. 12;

' Fig. 14 is a view in vertical section of still another modified form of a thermostatically, automatically adjustable overflow-return pipe means;

Fig. 15 is a view on dotted line l5-l5 of Fig.

' Fig. 16 is a plan view of a thermostatic means having a modified form of guide-support means, i. e., rods Fig. 17 is a fragmentary view of a modified 35 form of an overflow-return pipe embodying my invention, centrally located with respect to the reservoir;

Fig. 18 is a plan view in reduced scale of the modified form shown in Fig. 17; and

4 Fig. 19 is a view in longitudinal section of an-' height to meter usually ten gallons, is preferably.

45 formed of two concentrically spaced sylphon tubes l5 and I5, closed at the top and bottom, so

that an attenuated chamber i1 is formed therebetween. Preferably liquid of the character to be metered, gasoline in present instance, is pro- 50 vided in said chamber through port it, (Fig. 3), while port l9 serves as an air vent, and then said ports are sealed when said chamber is filled. The gasoline may be placed in said chamber at a temperature lower than that at which the gaso- 55 line is normally dispensed, so that the sylphon tubes are placed under pressure. This gasoline may also be introduced with a barometric pressure corresponding substantially to that of the district of use. no The thermostatic member thus made up ordinarily will be flexible, so that a guide or vertical supporting member, such as slotted pipe 20 is' necessary or at least desirable. Pipe 20 is secured into the fitting 21 in the bottom plate 22 of the 65 reservoir 23 and made fast in the top plate 24 of said reservoir 23 by nut 25. Gaskets 26 and 21, and nut 28, together with fitting 2| render" easy the substitution of slotted pipe 20 in place of the regular return pipe, which is of a slightly larger 70 diameter than pipe 20. Of course, this consideration is only important where the invention is to r be installed in metering devices already manufactured.

,.A marker 29 for "10 is mounted on the bottom of the sylphon thermostatic member ii. A

- markers.

marker 30 for 9" may be adjustably secured to said thermostatic member as follows: A splitring marker mounting means ll has a concave bearing 32 adapted to fit over a fold II of the sylphon I! at the approximate elevation of the level 5 of the top of the gallon immediately above marker 29. Lock rings 34 and secure the edge portions of the marker 2' therebetween at the precise desired level above marker II to represent one gallon. It will be noted that the ad- 10 Justable markers allow free access of the gasoline to the sylphon folds. The other markers 30, 21, 22, 29, 40, 4|, l2 and 42 for "8, 7", "6", 5", "4", 3", "2, and "1", are likewise adiustably secured to the thermostatic sylphon IS. The top 15 marker 44 for 0" is preferably secured to the top of the sylphon thermostatic element-formed by the tubes II and It. The distance between the markers 29 and 44 is such as to represent ten true or full measure gallons. It will be under- 20 stood that the glass bowl 23 may vary in diameter, and accordingly the markers 29, 20, and it to 44 must be adjusted to represent accurately a true gallon unit between each two adJustably disposed The lock rings 34 and 25 on split ring 25 3| provide for adjustably locating the said markers. Ports 45 in pipe guide 20 provide for the escape of the gasoline into the guide pipe 22 as do slots 46. Intermediate slots 41 may be provided. Electric light means 48 and 42 supply light so that the true level of the gasoline may be observed in the night time. 1

Inlet pipe 50, having the usual deflecting hood Iii, provides for admission of the gasoline to the metering reservoir within the bowl 22, and the 86 usual outlet or withdrawal pipe 52 is provided In the modified form of my invention, as shown in Fig. 8, instead of having a thermostatic member with a chamber l1 extending from the bottom to the top of the thermostatic member, separate and individual thermostatic units 53 may be formed of a length equal to the distance between each of the markers 54, 55, 56, I1, .50, 69, I, ll, 62, 63, and 64. These markers may be in all respects similar in construction to markers 29, 30, and 36 to 44, inclusive. This form of construction manifestly confines the expansion eifect to the layer occupied by a specific gallon, but all these are added together to elevate the top to the desired level, and the intermediate markers are elevated to indicate the required level.

- In the modified form of the top portion shown in Fig. 10, the guide means do not extend through to the top plate 24. In this form a slot 65 is provided in the top portion of the guide pipe 66. 55

This form of the device is preferably provided with a depending sleeve member 61 secured to the inner edge of the top closing means 68 of the sylphon tubes 89 and ID. This sleeve member 61 may extend to such a point above the bottom 50 plate as will in nowise interfere with the contraction of the thermostatic unit formed by the sylphon tubes 89 and 10. This sleeve 61 provides against undue wear against the guide pipe I, and is obviously applicable to other forms shown herein; In the modified form of the device shown in Fig. 11, a thermostatic element H is comprised of a single sylphon'tube 12 of relatively small diameter to form a confined chamber 12 which 70 is filled with gasoline. The smallness of diameter provides a column which will respond fairly promptly to changes in temperature of the contacting medium. A second thermostatic element 14 is formed precisely'like H. These two'ther- L.

mostatic elements ll and H are joined by a bar II having an annular ring in the center I. which engages an overflow-return pipe ll of sylphon construction. Adjustable markers ll, 18, and 80 are secured to thermostatic member H, while similar markers, ll, 82, and 83 are secured to thermostatic element II on the opposite side. Obviously, the level of the top of pipe 11 will be determined by the height of the thermostatic units II and H.

. In the modified form shown in Fig. 12, a thermostatic element It is formed of a plurality of thermostatic units 85 which comprise two superimposed metal bands, each having a different coemciency oi expansion, the inner metal band I. having a greater coefllcient of expansion than the outer metal band 81. Y The peripheral face of these units is concave as at 88. 'I'heseunits 85 are fastened together at their joining edges 8! to form a tube constituting the thermostatic element 84, the axial passageway H6 forming an overflow-retum pipe. Suitable guide means may also be employed.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 14, a thermostatic element 90 is formed oi a plurality of thermostatic units 9| arranged in serpentine form, each unit comprisingtwo strips of metal having diil'erent coefficients of expansion, 82 being the metal of the higher coefllcient of expansion, and 93 being the metal 'of less coefllcient of expansion. These thermostatic units 9| are secured along their end portions at 94. The thermostatic element 90 is disposed in a casing 95 having perforations 98,--casing 95 serving as a guide supporting member. A second thermostatic element 91 is provided on the opposite side of an overflow-return pipe 98 of sylphonic construction. This pipe 98 is secured to a ring 99 carried by bar HID extending fromthermostatic element 90 to thermostatic element 91. Likewise, in this instance, the level of the top of the overflow-return pipe 98, will be regulated by the thermostatic elements or means 90 and $1.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 16, instead a of a guide supporting pipe ZIl'being provided, the three rods it are disposed in the angular spaced relation of 120.

' In the modifieclform shown in Fig. 17, the thermostatic, automatically adjustable overflowreturn pipe I02 is located in the axial center of the metering reservoir. A marker mounting means I03, with a concave bearing IM to engage a sylphon fold W5, is also here provided. Split ring members 905 having flanges I01 are held in gripping relation to marker mounting means I03 by means of set screws 108. Go rings it are marker rods 1109 having thereon a telescopingly mounting member litl, member ilil bearing marker number plate ill. The marker bearing plate it i is of convex form on. its outer face to conform to the curvature of the glass bowl 23 oi the reservoir to form a bearing therewith, being yieldingly held by spring M2. In this form the glass bowl 28 functions as a supporting member for the thermostatically, automatically adjustable overfiow-return pipe Hi2.

In the modified forms shown in Figs. ll, l4, l7, and 18, double marker means are shown, so that on two sides of the bowl 2 3, the gasoline level ising largely mutuallyself supporting. and the element asa' whole will possess in and of itself considerable longitudinal stiflness. Since the folds oi! each tube only touch tangentially, the pressure, developed due to expansion, will be communicated 5 to the top closing means H 5 of the tubes.

The mode of operation of the device embodying my invention is as follows:

In the above description, the mode of operation is set forth to a large degree. In general, it will be seen that my invention is characterized in providing a thermostatically, automatically, adjustable overflow-return pipe, and various methods of constructing this pipe are illustrated.

'By forming the thermostatic element of two concentrically disposed sylphon tubes i5 and Hi to provide a'chamber I1 therebetween, it is manii'est that an attenuated liquid confining chamber is provided. When this is filled with gasoline or a liquid corresponding to that being metered, it is manifest that this column will be quickly et-. fected by any change of temperature of the liquid contacting the outer sylphonic tube l5. This change in temperature will be promptly trans- -mitted to the column, and the expansion force of this column is longitudinally directed. It is manifest that the thermostatic element has its axially disposed passageway forming a return pipe. The expansion of the column thus developed by increase in temperature, will be charac- 3 terized by being relatively powerful and will promptly cause the pipe of sylphon construction to lengthen to compensate for the expansion clue to the increase in temperature. The horizontally disposed annular ribs of the sylphon tubes l5 and I6 prevent sidewise bulging of the thermostatic element. Furthermore, the guide means 20, or the rods IM also assist in preventing the sylphon tubes from being inwardly bulged, and the split rings 3| with the lock rings 34 also assist in preventing the sylphon tubes from being outwardly bulged. Thus my invention provides for an automatically contractile and expansible overflow return pipe, the top or the liquid level detemiining lip of which will be at that level determined by the temperature of the liquid being metered. When the temperature is such that the gasoline, or other liquid, particularly such other liquids whose volumes are readily subject to 5 changes in temperature, has expanded so as to occupy more space, then the top of the overflowreturn pipe is automatically, thermostatically raised to a higher level to accurately compensate for said increased volume, and the amount of gasoline overflowing and returning to the reservoir beneath the ground is proportionately lessened. Thus, the device operates with precision to. automatically give accurate gallon measurement for varying temperatures, with- 69 out any special attention or increased operations, on the part of either the operator or the customer, over that commonly required with present devices. It will be understood that the gasoline is pumped from the reservoir in the $5 ground into reservoir 23 through inlet pipe as, and so much of the gasoline as is at a level above the top of the overflow return pipe, flows back to the reservoir in the ground. Hence, it will be manifest how important it is to accurately 7i) and precisely-control the level oi the top of the overflow pipe.

If desired, regard may be had to the per ticular elevation above sea level at which the device is to function, and the liquid supplied Preferably the liquid supplied to the cham ber ii of the thermostatic element is of the same character as that of the liquid being metered. In this wise the thermostatic means will be characterized by having such physical properties as the coefllcient of expansion corresponding direct with that of the liquid being metered. However, it is to be understood that another liquid or fluid whose physical properties, as respects its coeflicient ofexpansion, corregaonds to the liquid being metered, may be substituted as an equivalent.

It is obvious that the thermostatic element embodying my invention is provided with a surface exposed to the liquid being metered from top to bottom, so that all transverse layers of gasoline have their due eflect upon the thermostatic element, the gasoline having free access rearwardly of the marker mounting means.

The various features involved in my invention, thus all cooperate to provide an instrument characterized by its high degree of precision and accuracy.

Obviously, changes may be made in the forms, dimensions and arrangement of the parts of my invention, without departing from the principle thereof, the above setting forth only preferred forms of embodiment.

I claim:

1. A liquid metering device embodying a metering reservoir; and an upwardly projecting liquid tight overflow return means having an upper opening in communication with said reservoir and having thermostatically longitudinally contractible and expansible walls below said upper opening, said contractility and expansibility being in magnitudes which accurately compensate for temperature variations in the liquid being metered, whereby the maximum level of liquid and thereby a meterable unit of liquid in said metering reservoir may be accurately varied in response to thermostatic responsive means.

' 2. A liquid metering device embodying a metering reservoir; an overflow-return means for said reservoir; and a thermostatic element surrounding said overflow-return means, the top of said element forming a liquid escape gate, whereby the level of the liquid in said reservoir is controlled.

3. In a liquid metering device, a metering reservoir; and an upwardly projecting liquid tight overflow retu'rn means having an upper opening in communication with said reservoir and having thermostatically longitudinally contractible and expansible walls below said upper opening, whereby the maximum level of liquid and thereby a meterable unit of liquid in said metering reservoir may be varied in response to thermostatic responsive means.

4. In a liquid metering device, a metering reservoir; and a thermostatic element comprising an attenuated annular column of fluid, means for confining said fluid, said fluid having substantially the same coefllcient of expansion and 5 for confining said liquid, said liquid being the same as that being metered, the central portion of said column functioning as the overflow- 16 return passageway for said reservoir.

6. In a liquid metering device, a liquid reservoir; and a liquid overflow-return meansfor said reservoir, which means includes a thermostatic element comprising two concentrically disgo.

posed sylphon tubes forming an attenuated fluid confining chamber therebetween, and top and bottom closing means for said chamber.

7. In a liquid metering device, a liquid reservoir; a liquid overflow-return 'means for said 26 reservoir, which means includes a thermostatic element comprising two concentrically disposed sylphon tubes forming an attenuated liquid confining chamber therebetween; top and bottom closing means for said chamber; and liquid in 30' said chamber, which liquid is the same as that being metered.

8. In a liquid metering device, a metering reservoir; a thermostatic element formed by an attenuated annular column of fluid, longitudi- 85 nally flexible means forming a chamber for said fluid, the central portion of said element functioning as theoverflow-return passageway for said reservoir; and a'guide member for said thermostatic element.

9. In a liquid metering device, a metering reservoir; a thermostatic element formed by an attenuated annular column of fluid, flexible means forming a chamber for said fluid, said fluid having substantially the same coefllcient of 5 expansion and contraction as the liquid being metered, the central portion of said column functioning as the overflow-return passageway for said reservoir; and a guide member for said thermostatic element, said member having openings 50 intermediate its length, which openings function as liquid escape passageways.

10. In a liquid metering device, a metering reservoir; a thermostatic element formed by an attenuated annular column of fluid, longitudinally flexible means forming a chamber for said fluid, the central portion oi said element functioning as the overflow-return passageway for said reservoir; unit marker mounting means operatively disposed at intervals on said thermostatic eleg0 ment; and unit markers adjustably secured on said mounting means.

THOMAS ARTHUR FEE, Ja. 

